Drier and kiln.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. DOWELL, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0E COLUMBIA, AND

j WILLIAM B. ,MCHENRTA 0E PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

j DRlsR ANfDjKILN.

, srEcI'Erc'na'rroly forming 'pea of Leaersatent No. 700,482, dated Mayao, 1902.

Application inea July 6,1901. saisine. 67,313. (Nomade To all tf/tem, it mwyconcer'n:

Be it known that we,ART1=IUR` E. DovvELI.,of`Y

Washington-,District of Columbia, and WIL- LIAM Bi MGHENRY, of'Pittsburg, Alleghenyv county, Pennsylvania, have invented cer` tain newand useful Improvements in Driers and Kilns; and We'herebyd'eclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip'-H tion thereof, reference beinghadto the accompanying gdrawvings,4 whichv form part v...of

this specification.

This inventionis an improvement in driersA or kilns fordrying lumber or for drying or burning brick, pottery, tile, &cl, being espe` cially designed, however, for drying purposes rather than for burning and its object is to produce a simple and eflicient drier which can be vused with either an updraft or a down-` draft, the inventionhaving more particular.

reference to theporti'on-of theapparat'us whereby the downdraft is provided for. When' used as a kiln, the products of "combustion are admitted directly into the tunnels; .butwhen used as a drier the products of. combustion'a're excluded therefrom, but conducted throughiues beneaththe floor of.- thev drierso.as.to heat the several tunnels, and-then conducted to the uptake, Where they assist in creating a natural draft,whereby the moist vapors from the material being dried are drawn out of the tunnels. e. w'

The invention is summarized inthe claims,

and the accompanying-drawings representa` drier embodying the improvements,which will be now describedvvith reference thereto.

j As shown, the general arrangement otjfurf` naces, tunnels, smoke-lines, uptake; andyupdraft-outlets is similar to that of the McHenry patented drier, No. 629,202, of July'lS,-l899. Figure lis a longitudinal sectional=vievv through the complete drier, Fig. 2 V"beinga Atransverse verticalsection through the stackend of drieron line2 2, Fig.1,Fig.f8being a horizontal section" online y33,L Fig. 2, and' Fig. lisa detail. f

` The drier comprises one or more tunnels or,Y drying-cha'mbers A, eachtu nnel bein g ypractically alikeand founbeingshown inthe d'raW- 1 ings, each extending longitudinally therethrough and closed bylsu'itable doors at eachy end, asusual.4 At and below the discharge end of each tunnel is a furnace B, and the 'smoke is conducted ytherefrom when the apparatus isused as adrier through a flue C, extending along and beneath the Iioor of the tunnel, so as to heat theflatter, and at the in` Ylet end ofl the tunnel this flue is turned off to one side and extends to the vside of the drier and there connects With a vertical flue C', which leads up into the smoke-chamber E at thebase of the uptake E. The vertical flues VC are preferably extendedinwardly above the 'outermost-tunnels, as shown-at C2, so as Vmit itinto the tunnels at various points.

-Adirect outlet is provided for the` vapors in the tunnels through openings f in the roofs .thereof at the receiving end.: of the drier,

.these openingsbeing closable, when desired,

radiated into the tunnels, the roof ofthe iiues or floors of the kilns maybe partly formed of -by valves F, as shown; To increase the heat metal-platesH, which are preferably located f ln'earithe furnaces, as shown. vIt these 'plates y are removed, the products of combustion can ,l

directlyA enter the tunnelsyand .the apparatus could then Vbe used as la kiln ;f. butordinarily for drying purposes these-plates are closely` 1 l flttedinplace,so that th'e'products of com-l bustion are excluded'from the tunnels and fonly hot air admitted therein. The drier as thus fary described is ork may be practically constructed like the McHenry drier above refy Y ferred to.' v- Y When valves `F are opened, the vapors in Vthe uptake by a direct or upward draft, and

when thus. used the drier operates .-asvvhatv .is commonlytermed an "-updraft-drierl f ,v l

When it is to be used as a downdraft-drier, provisionl is `n1ade' for removing `the vapors, 95

from'v the receiving ends ofthejtunnels, at pointsat orne'ar thefloors thercof,xas follows:

ends thereof, are formed vertical .vaporlues G,'.yvh"ich may bebuilt likeordinary brick fines orLmay. beformed of pipes or tubes, of lte rra'l cotta or other materialbuilt into the Wal-lsf- 'Y yPreferably these y fines G extend up through lthe topof the'tunji and partitionsjof the drier.

nels into the smoke-chamber El at1 theba' of thev uptake, asshown, andlprefer inneriiues are continued up with In the Wallsof. the tunnels,rn earthe receiving j. 4 V` l smoke-chamber by the due extensions G G2, as shown, and terminate a substantially uniform distance from the roof of the` chamber, so as to equalize the draft in said flues. Thus the innermost flues G are continued up within the smoke-chamber E' at the base of the uptake, as shown at G', farther than the extensions G2 of the next outermost i'lues, and the latter' are longer or taller than the next outermost flues, as shown. The outermost vapor-flues G in the outer walls of the kiln preferablyopen directly into the smoke-fines C2, as shown at Q', so that parts C2 of the sm okeflues may also be used as continuations of the outermost vapor-dues and assistin drawing the vapors out of the outer tunnels.

Preferably each tunnel is provided with two outlet-flues G, one at each side thereof, said fines opening at bottom into the tunnels, near the floor thereof, as at g, so as to withdraw the vapors therefrom.

Preferably each fine G is distinct, so that two tunnels do not directly communicate with a single vapor-fine. In some cases, however, it might be found practicable to let one vapor-flue communicate with two adjoining tunnels. Itis considered preferable, however, to provide individual vapor-dues for each tunnel. As the hottest smoke and vapors naturally pass along and near the top of the pent-roof e of the smoke-chamber E', the advantage of extending the vaporflues G through the lower part of this chamber, as shown at G G2, dac., .is obvious, as the hot currents of smoke passing the tops of the flues tend to create suction therein.

The openings g may be provided with valves, if desired, as indicated at gg, Fig. l; but when valves F are open the lighter vapors will naturally pass directly upward therethrough, and if any heavier vapors then pass out of the ilues G the operation of drying will be facilitated, and when valves F are closed the vapors must pass out of the flues G. In some constructions, if desired, the direct updraftoutlets could be made by providing openings g3 (see Fig. 1) in the iiues G near the tops of the tunnels, said openings being closable by valve g4; but this is not considered a preferable construction.

Vhen Valves F are closed, the moist vapors are forced down to thevbottoms of the tunnels and pass into flues G through openings g and thence upward directly to the uptake in the most natural manner without having to follow any tortuous channels, and as the vapor-fines G are always entirely surrounded by heat they are therefore always in the best condition for creating a natural direct upward draft in flues G, which causes a downdraft in the tunnels by exhausting vapors therefrom at points near the bottoms thereof. By this arrangement of vertical fines` for creating the downdraft within the body of the drier heat is econcmized as compared with downdraft arrangements employing long and tortuous underground flues,

every bend in which retards its drawing qualities.

Having thus described our invention, what we therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. The combination in a drier, of a series of tunnels, an uptake at one end of the drier, and means for heating the tunnels; with vapor-fines in the side walls of the several tunnels, opening at bottom into the bottom of the tunnels, and at top into the uptake, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a drier, of a series of tunnels, an uptake at one end of the drier, and means for heating the tunnels and updraft-outlets to the uptake; with downdraft vapor-lines in the opposite side walls of each one of the tunnels opening at bottom into the bottom of the tunnels, and at top intothe uptake, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a drier, ofa series of tunnels, an uptake at one end thereof, and valved updraft-outlets connecting the tunnels with the uptake; with downdraft-flues in the walls and partition between each one of the tunnels communicating at their lower ends with the bottoms of the .tunnels and at their upper ends with the uptake, substantially as described.

et. The combination in a drier, of aseries of tunnels, an uptake at one end thereof, valved openings connecting the tops of tunnels directly with the uptake, and means for heating the tunnels; with vertical flues in the sides walls of each one of the tunnels communicating at their lower ends with the bottoms of the tunnels and at their upper ends with the uptake, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a series of tunnels an uptake at one end thereof, havinga smokechamber extending over the tunnels, and means for heating the tunnels; with downdraft vapor-fines in the partitions between the tunnels below the uptake, said flues communicating at bottom with the bottoms of the tunnels and extending up into the smokechamber, for the purpose and substantially as described.

6. The combination of a series of tunnels, an uptake at one end thereof having a smokechamber extending over the tunnels, valved openings directly connecting the tops of tunnels with the uptake, and means for heating the tunnels; with vertical vapor-dues in the walls and partitions between each one of the tunnels below the uptake, said flues commu-- nicating at bottom with the bottoms of the tunnels and extending up into the smokechamber, for the purpose and substantially as described.

7. In a drier, the combination of a series of drying-tunnels, an' uptake at one end thereof, and vertical fines in the oppositeside walls of each one of the tunnels communicating at top with the uptake and at `bottom with the lower portions ojf the tunnels.

S. In a drier, the combination of a tunnel,

IOO

IIO

` furnaces at one end thereof, an uptake at the other end thereof, andl smoke-ilues leading from the furnaces to the uptake; with lues extending through the walls and partitions of the tunnels atV the uptake end of .the.tunnel, communicating at bottom with; the bottoms of the'tunnels and Vat top-with the uptake,

' substantially -as described.

10. The combination of a tunnel, a furnace at one end thereof, an uptake at the other end thereof, and a smoke-flue exterior to the tunnel leading from the furnace to thepuptake, and an outlet from the top ofV the tunnel-to the uptake; with vertical flues in theoppor site sidewalls of the tunnel communicating at their-lower ends directlywith-th'e tunnel near. the floor thereof, and at top with the uptake, substantially as described.

l1. In adrier the conibinationof a series of drying-tunnels, an uptake atene end thereof,- openings directly vconnecting-the top ofthe tunnels .with the uptake,.and verticaliues in the partitions between-'the tunnels commu@ nicating at top with the uptake, and Aat bottom withlthe lower portionsof the tunnels.

12; VIn adrier, the combination of a series of tunnels', furnaces at the discharge end thereof, an uptake at the receivingend thereof, openings 'connectingrthe top of the tun-nels with the uptake, andsmoke-fines under4 the f tunnels and extended to and communicating n with the uptake; with'vertical'flues'extending .through the partitions between thetunf nels atzthe receiving end of the drier comj municating at bottom with the lower parts of l the' tunnels, and at .top with th'eu'pta'ke, sub.- stantially as described. i l

13. 'The combination of a series of tunnels, furnaces .at one end. thereof, an uptakeat the other end thereof, an opening connectingthe top of the tunnels with the uptake, and sm'okei flues exterior to the tunnels leading fromthe furnaces to `the .uptakepwith vertical ilues i located therein the walls and partitions of the y tunnels at kthe `uptake .end of `the tunnels, communicating at bottom with the bottoms of the tunnels and at top with the uptake, sub'- stantially as described.

14. The combination of a series of'tunnels an uptake at one end thereof-having a smokechamber extending thereover,.andlv furnaces at the other endfthereof, and'fluesfleading under the'tunnels from therfurnaces andcon.- necting with .the smoke-chamber by exterior flues; with vapor-'flues--in the side walls of each one of the, tunnels below the smokechamber communicating at bottom with-the bottoms-of the tunnels, and extendingup into theYsmoke-chamber, substantially as and-for the purpose described.

15. .The combination ofaseries of tunnels, an uptake at one end thereofhavinga smokechamber extending thereover, and vertical smoke-fluesat theV sides of the tunnelcommunicating with theuptake by extensions at their upper ends; furnaces at andbelow the other ends of the tunnelsrandy smoke-dues leading from said furnaces beneath-the tunnels and connecting with said vertical smoke- 8o fines; with .vapor-iues'inthe walls of partitions between the tunnels having their lower ends opening into the bottoms of thetunnels, and their upper, ends extended upwardlyinto and communicatingwith the smoke-chamber; 8 5

substantially as described.`

16. The combination of a series of tunnels;

an uptake at one end thereof having a smokechamber extendingV thereover, and furnaces atthe other-endthereof, and-fines leading 9e under. the tunnelsfrom the furnaces and conf necting` with the-smoke-chamber -by.exterior ues,^and valvedopenings inthe. roofs ofthe tunnels directly :connecting the latter with the smoke-chamber; with vertical vapor-dues 9 5 in the walls 1 of and partitions-betweenI the tunnels below thesmoke-chamber communi;` eating at bottom with'tlie bottoms of the 'tunnels, andzextending upinto thezsmoke-,chaniber, for the purpose andsubstantially-as described. s

17. The combination of aseries oftunneIS; an uptake at one end thereof, havinga smokechamber extending thereover, and -;vertical rob smoke-fines .at the.` sides of the :tunnelcon'i- 165 municating withtheuptakeby extensions-at their upper ends projecting .into thesmokechamber; furnaces at andi beloWg-the other ends ofzthe tunnels, and smoke-fluesleading from said furnaces vbeneath tthetunnels and connectingfwith :saidrvertical smoker-illes; with valved openings inlthe ro'ofs 'offtheftnm nels to allowupdraftof .vapors into the-smokel chamber, andyertical vapor-lines in the walls of andbetween thetunnels having their lower 1 15 ends opening directly into the J4.tunnels near the iioors thereofyand xtheir :upper endsfextended upwardlylinto .and communicating -with` the 'smoke-chamber; substantially aside'- scribed.

@In testimony-that we c1aim.the"foregoinas p L our 'own -we affixour signatures in presence vof .1 .2. `Jesuits R. .MANSFLELL Fownnla;V .i f -Witnesses to signature of iW. =B. :MeHenrfyV 

